Wreath Of Helping Hands

We are celebrating the Adventure of Christmas! We are expectantly waiting and preparing for the celebration of the the birth of Jesus! This time of preparation is sometimes called Advent. Advent means "to come". We are called to be expectantly, and readily waiting for Jesus' coming all year long, in everything we do. So as we prepare for Christmas let this season of Advent serve a duel purpose; to remind us of the birth of our Messiah, and to encourage us to wait expectantly for His second coming.



I do not like to wait, in fact I am slightly impatient. Since having children, I have learned that a toddler waiting along with you in a grocery line has even less patience with waiting than I do. While we waited, we sing or play pat a cake. So a toddlers wait time became a fun time with Mommy.
What can we do while waiting for Christmas?
We can focus on Jesus, through Bible study, prayer, worship and fellowship with fellow believers. Another way is by serving others as Jesus taught us to do. As a family on this first Sunday of Advent we are going to sit down and list ways we can serve others in our home, at church, and in the community. We'll learn and grow closer to Christ during our wait time.



Together with the children and families at our church we will make wreathes of helping hands during the Sunday School hour. Each family unit will have a bare wreath and will trace and cut out each family members hand tracings. Families will discuss ways they can serve throughour the Christmas season. Later we will print out on each tracing a way in which a family member has served and place it on the wreath. Even the youngest children can serve with hugs, kisses, songs and smiles. Each family member should try to add a tracing every day! By Christmas time our wreaths will be full of greens! What a joyous Christmas it will be through serving others!

Dear God,

During this season of Advent allow us to savour each moment as we prepare for Your Son's birthday party! May Jesus not get lost in all of the hustle and bustle this time of year can bring. May we keep Jesus the center of all of our holiday celebrating! May we truly enjoy the wonderment, excitement and adventure this Christmas!

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Mark 13:35-37

"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back-whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you , I say to everyone: "Watch!"

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Loved Ones,

You are gracious and kind.......

and full of love too,

During this Thanksgiving season..........

We are thankful for you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, The Patterson 5

She Gave Him His Life

Today is my husband's birthday. We have been celebrating all month as he is a very special person! He is thirty-nine today!

Every November I think about his birth mother, knowing she must be wondering about him. Wondering if the choice she made thirty nine years ago was the right one. Wondering if the hopes she had for him, yet could not give him, came to fruition through giving him up. It must have been such a difficult selfless decision.

I'd like to tell her how much love the Patterson's gave him growing up, and how they treasured each day with him. I'd love to tell her that they told me the story of his arrival at least one hundred times, their faces all aglow! His mom, Charlotte, made him homemade costumes, elaborately decorated cakes, and kites. His dad helped him make his own go cart, gave him an extensive love of learning, and showed him how to help others. They gave him a foundation of love that sustains him even in his adulthood. He is thankful for the home he grew up in, and does not feel abandoned by her decision.

I think she would be proud of the man he has become. He is a man of God, a wonderful husband, a loving father, a good friend, and a successful engineer. He is respected at church and in his community.

I wish I could tell her how thankful I am for her decision. She loved him so much that she carried him for nine months and then let him go. She gave him his life. Even though we may never meet, I love her for that.

Dear God,

On this Happy Birthday Day, I thank you for the man you gave to me to love and cherish until the day I die. I thank you for his birth mom, may she feel at peace knowing he is leading a joyful life, and is thankful for the life she gave. I thank you for the opportunity to celebrate this life!

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Ephesians 1:3-6

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."

If you have time, listen to this song on the Bethany adoption site (not the agency for Mr P's adoption) but dear friends have adopted children through this wonderful agency. The song is by Mark Schulz and I am moved to tears every time I hear it. Click here to hear it.

Birthday Greetings from Guest Writers

On the eve of Mr P's birthday the children have been working on birthday greetings for their Daddy!



Guest writers for today, JP, SP and BP.



My Dad

My dad is the best dad ever.......

And I mean it. There is no better dad EVER.

My dad loves us and takes care of us.

He teaches us about God.

He also teaches us how to be a good person.

My dad is adventurous.

He takes me camping, rock climbing and caving.

He likes to read with me.

We like read Narnia, Lord Of The Rings and much much more.

We also like star wars.

He and I like star wars figures.

We also like video games.

My dad likes football.

He likes the Wolf pack.

I love my Dad.

JP

Next we hear from writer SP

"I love my Dad! I am so lucky I have a Daddy like mine."

"He takes care of me. He hugs me!"

And finally guest writer BP......

A Happy Birthday cake for Daddy. After drawing the candles she said, "I'll blow out the candles" and then she blew on the paper.

Honoring God In Our Homes

Behind closed doors, in our homes, when we are with those who love us best, would they say we are honoring God with the way we live our lives? Would they say our words are full of patience, and love, or would there be a moments pause as they thought about an angry outburst or a sour attitude? Are we living lives that truly honor God? Are we honoring God in our homes?

When I think of honor I think of worship, adore, respect, and regard with devotion. The ultimate of regarding with devotion is to be a disciple, a follower. Being a disciple takes discipline.

Jesus taught that as Christians we are to be noticed for how we love one another. We are commanded to love one another with the same love that God has given us.

In our homes, are we easily provoked, do we think good or bad of people, are we puffed up -- elevating ourselves -- or are we humble, and over all, are we kind? These are questions we need to ask ourselves.

We must seek to honor God and to love. To love with patience, even in our thoughts. Always thinking the best of one another. Love by showing kindness, having compassion with one another, being tender-hearted, courteous, and seeking peace. All of these actions take the discipline of a relationship with God, discipleship, as we can not do all of this on our own.

Dear God,
May our home bring honor to You. May my children learn most about Your love from the way love has been shown in our home. May patience, kindness, compassion and most of all forgiveness abound in our relationship to each other. May we decide to follow You in every moment in our lives.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.

Exodus 20:24b
"Whereever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you."

John 13:35
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protcts, always trusts always hopes, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

1 Peter 3:8-
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

God Does Not Intend For Us To Do It ALL...Especially Not All On Our Own

Ask for help?

Who me?

No one can do the things I do, as well as I can...... Can they? I'm supposed to be able to handle my household, taking care of every one's needs, and I can do this better than anyone else. Right?

No one can help my son's with their homework like I do. No one can fix my daughter's hair or dress her as cute as I can. No one can clean the bathrooms to a germ free shine like I do.

Often times it is easier to grumble about all of the things we have to do, than to ask for help, or to teach our young ones how to complete household chores. I've used excuses about if my children try to do a chore it won't be done perfectly. If I do not teach them simple household chores how are they going to learn them? If I don't allow them to own a chore how are they to master it? I can live with a slightly unswept floor. Can't I?

God call us to delegate. Moses, a great leader, had to delegate as well. He could not handle all of the needs of the Israelites on his own. He had to train others to help him.

If we delegated jobs, yes give them away, we'd get more done in our days. We also might even show up places promptly instead of rushing in, frazzled, a few minutes late. We'd also be teaching our young ones responsibility, and they will grow! God wants us to grow our young ones!


Dear God,

I thank you for Your Word which shows us that Your leaders relied on You, yet also needed the help of others as well, for the load you called them to carry. Sharing our loads make them lighter, more manageable while also teaching others skills they will need for the life of purpose You have planned. May I wisely delegate my household duties, teaching my children valuable lessons in good stewardship in the care of our home, which You have blessed us with.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.



Exodus 18: 17-18, 20-21
"Moses father-in-law replied, 'What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.'"

"Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people-men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain-".......

Your "No" May Make Way For Another's "Yes"!

Singing brings me great joy, soothes my soul, and blesses me as I am made to worship!

I love to worship with song! Last fall I joined our church's choir. Recently a friend, and fellow church member, shared how I have blessed her by joining the choir. Surprizingly enough it was not my beautiful voice that blesses her! As a former choir member she struggled with whether to sit in the choir loft and sing, or to sit out in the congregation with her dear husband. For years she'd prayed for him to come to church, and now that he does, it would hurt her heart to see him out there sitting all by himself. Their children are all grown and do not live close by. She felt pulled to stay in choir, but more so to support her husband. She felt guilty for leaving her singing post.

That next fall I joined the choir and whose seat did I take?....... Hers! I also, in all likelihood, took her robe because we are both vertically challenged! A wise friend told me that sometimes when you say, "yes" to something you say, "no" to something else. Her "yes" to choir was a "no" to sitting with her husband. My "yes" to choir eased her guilt about the "no" as now her seat is filled! Sometimes your "no" might make way for another person's "yes," thereby providing a place for another brother or sister in Christ to grow.



Dear God,

What joy it is to sing praises to You! How wonderful it is that we can share in the workings of Your church. May we continue to encourage and support one another.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.

Phelemon 1:7
"Your love has given me joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints."

Grooming 101

Welcome to the Patterson Parlor of Hair!!!

Two boys in need of a hair cut!

Hair helmets!







Mr P- not so much in the
need of a cut but he likes
his hair short!








No need to be nervous boys........
















And after!



Lolly Pop anyone?






















Oh so glamorous!

I Forgave You

I am a sensitive person and my feelings get hurt easily. I brood and fret over my feelings. I want so much for the other person to know how they've hurt me even though they may not even realize it . Secretly, I want them to feel just as bad as I do. I want them to be sorry and eager to make amends. However, they may not really want to. And then, there go those hurt feelings of mine... I want to put up a wall, be tough,........ I don't need them, kind of attitude. But that's not true.

As I pondered these negative feelings all morning, I decided it was high time I prayed about it. (Took me long enough) As I prayed a funny thing happened. I prayed about how hurt I was that this relationship was no longer close. I felt like they did not care, or even want to know that I wanted things to be better. So I wanted to close myself off from this relationship, to get away from my hurt feelings.

God seemed to whisper....." I forgave you."

I still prayed on, but I am so hurt, why don't they care? Don't they want to have a relationship with me?

God again whispered......"You don't always show up like you promised, and yet I patiently wait, loving you all the more. I never put up a wall to hold you away from me."

Oh dear..........

God calls us to love and forgive just as He loves and forgives us. Jesus understands my hurt feelings. He was rejected in his home town. His best friends left Him in His time of trouble. Yet He layed down his life for us, willingly. In His pain and agony He prayed for God to forgive us for we know not what we do.

Even when we hurt Him or let Him down He loves.

God never closes Himself off from us even when we stand Him up for not so holy things; phone conversations, TV shows, sleep.......... oh dear.


Looks like God has some heart issues for me to work on.

Dear God,

I thank you for hearing my prayer today. Even though it was not the justification I thought I wanted; the answers You brought to me were freeing. Freeing me from the hurt. Freeing me to love unconditionally and with more compassion. Examine my heart for any reminents of unforgiveness and reveal them to me so that I may truly forgive as You have forgiven me.

In Jesus Name
Amen.


Mark 11:25
"And when you stand praying, if you hold any thing against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Luke 23:34
"Jesus said, 'Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing'."

Colossians 3:12-14
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Turkish Delights

We came across this sign recently and well we had to go in and try this "delight". My oldest and I are reading aloud C.S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe each evening to the family. In the book, Edmund, enjoys a desert called Turkish delights and LOVES them.

So we all decided to give them a try..........

















I think the white witch would have an extremely hard time convincing my children that Turkish delights are worth coming back to her castle for!

Under Pressure

Illnesses.................

Marital Challenges..............

Homework..... School projects........

Work......

Deadlines.........

Laundry......

Behavior Issues with our children........

Field trips........ Volunteering.........

Play dates......

Re certifications......Classes for work......

Car pools.......

Dinner.......Holiday planning.....

Grocery shopping.......

House cleaning.........

Often times I feel, "Under Pressure", even with the ordinary events of my life. If your like me, just reading those lists of stressors might have produced a bit of pressure. Often times all of these pressures can be going on in our lives all at once. It can feel a little overwhelming and also discouraging.

As I look at my pressure stressors I am learning to see them in a different light. What would my life be like with out three kids and a husband? What would our lives be like with out jobs? What would it be like to not have clothes to wash, or a house to clean? What if we did not have extended families to plan visits with over the holidays?

Perhaps a better way to think on things would be to be thankful for our families health instead of stressing over coughs, wheezes and sniffles. To be thankful for a job that at times makes my feet hurt, but yet helps our family make ends meet, and helps me stay up to date in my continuing education. To be thankful for a house to clean, a family to cook for, and plan trips with. To be thankful my kids can complete homework and projects no matter how begrudgingly. So many blessings even in the pressures!

I found an interesting Proverb 24 verse 10 - "If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great." I think sometimes we forget that pressure is where we grow. God will not give us more than we can handle. Our key is to not fail under pressure. Stay with the healing, fine tuning, and pruning that God is placing you under - even if it comes with pressure. For at the end of the pressure is transformation. Let us not fail under the high pressure systems of life that will periodically come our way...

Thank a Veteran Today!

Today Nov. 11 is a day to set aside our differences and bestow special tribute to our Veterans everywhere. Today let's set aside some time for reflection. Some time to remember all those who have proudly served their country.

Veterans are regular people who have done the extraordinary, by putting their lives on the line for others. They have given some of the best years of their life to their country.

So on Veterans Day, remember to be proud of our veterans and those now serving in the Armed Forces. Remember those who have died before us so we can enjoy those freedoms we have now. Without their sacrifice, can you imagine what it would be like to live in this country? This is the greatest country in the world.

In many countries all around the world, they do not enjoy the freedoms that American citizens have.

Thank a veteran today! Let them know we are proud of all they do and have done for our country!

John 15:12-13 "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Blessings Found Along the Way

We all are on a journey-a journey called “Life”. Life is difficult. I do not believe it is supposed to be easy or even happy all of the time, however I am disappointed when it isn’t. I am a planner. I like to plan ahead and when things do not happen as I have so carefully planned I am disappointed. Instead of continuing to brood over my disappointments I am trying to think of the disappointments as God’s way of honing my character to help me fit into His plan.

As I try to improve my attitude towards disappointment, I remember my late mother-in-law, Charlotte,-missing her and loving her for how she faced disappointment so graciously leaving a legacy for my husband and I, to pass to her grandchildren.

Two years after my husband was adopted by his parents, they learned Charlotte had Multiple Sclerosis. Hers was very disabling. She was wheel chair bound by the time Mr P was 7 and bed ridden when he was in college. She held on to God’s promises the whole time and raised two wonderful men-my husband and his brother.

Mr P's mom and dad had a plan as most of us do. They planned to adopt 5 children- all different races- so that they could teach the world how we all can love each other no matter how different we may look on the outside. Mr P was their first adopted child. Their plans changed after the diagnosis of MS was made. Mr P's brother was an unexpected blessing that swept them off their feet after they survived two tornados in Athens GA.

Their marriage was a true example of a covenant between themselves and God; a bond that could not be broken. They had vowed to each other they would serve each other as Jesus serves-and by humbly putting the others needs as more important than their own. They took on the tough times together peacefully knowing God was an ever present force in their lives. Their sons were watching and I know this example has helped my marriage.

They taught their children to trust in God no matter the circumstance and their home was full of love and fun even in the shadow of a disabling disease. Mr P does not believe God made this happen to his mother but that it was allowed to happen for some greater purpose in God’s plan that we may never know.

As I was thinking of Charlotte- someone mentioned they had read about how we often wonder why God allows bad things to happen to good people. There is even a book about it-- Yet we don’t usually question God if we have received a blessing. After I heard this I tried to remember a time I may have asked God why he sent me a blessing. I never have asked God “Why” for a blessing, and in fact usually I expect the best and am disappointed when it isn’t the way I thought it should be.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights Habakkuk 3:17-19


God enables us “to go on to the heights” even when things do not go “well”. Our plan of where the heights are may differ from Gods plan but there are sure to be blessings along the way. Someday we may see that it all makes perfect sense. Because “we know, that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

I like to imagine Charlotte in heaven with her Savior dancing and singing to beautiful music, she loved those things. I thought maybe (when I get there) I could even find out why she had to endure such hardship here on earth and a dear friend shared that she probably will not even remember it as a hardship, as now for eternity Charlotte will be singing praises to Jesus!

I challenge you to count your many blessings especially those unexpected ones. Blessings that took you by surprise. Blessings you may have found during a disappointing time. All of our blessings come from God-together let’s be thankful!

Welcome Baby

Today we travelled to meet our newest niece! She is a week old and clearly advanced.... you will see, she and I are having a conversation already! It was such a joy to see her, hold her, smell that new born baby smell, hear her sweet cry, and hold her tiny hand.

It was oh so sweet to hold her, cherishing this moment as so children grow so fast.

The sleepless nights will not last long and soon she will be running after her brother and cousins.

Mother and baby are doing wonderfully (Mom is hoping for more sleep) but still wonderfully! We dashed off with big brother, Mr P's brother, and their dad and family! An afternoon with three Mr P's! I am hoping my nephew is as tired as our three children so that good sleep will occur tonight!

We rode a train, the boats, and a carousel!

Of course we found some monkey bars to swing on and trees to climb!

We had a great visit! Many thanks to the Patterson 4 for a fabulous day!!!!!

Dear God,

Thank you for this beautiful day that we shared with our extended family! Thank you for the blessing you have given us in the life of our niece. May she grow to love you more and more just as her parents and brother do. May her mom and dad get restful sleep during the hours they are able and feel Your love surrounding their family during this short, sweet tiring time.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.